Odontomachus

Schmidt, C. A. & Shattuck, S. O., 2014, The Higher Classification of the Ant Subfamily Ponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a Review of Ponerine Ecology and Behavior, Zootaxa 3817 (1), pp. 1-242 : 64-65

Odontomachus genus group

The Odontomachus genus group is a large and heterogeneous clade of predominantly Old World epigeic ponerines. The genus-level diversity of the group arose during an explosive period of radiation between about 40 and 30 MYA ( Schmidt, 2013). As a result, most generic relationships within the group are unresolved.

Discussion. The monophyly of the Odontomachus genus group is strongly supported by molecular data ( Schmidt, 2013) and is subtended by a long stem branch, but we have been unable to discern a single morphological synapomorphy for the group. Relationships within the group are generally very poorly resolved, suggesting a rapid basal radiation in the group. Leptogenys and Myopias are most frequently inferred as sisters and together as sister to the remainder of the group, except that the position of Mesoponera (s.s.) is uncertain and may form a clade with Leptogenys and Myopias . Paltothyreus and Buniapone are strongly inferred as sisters by molecular evidence; this relationship is corroborated by several morphological synapomorphies. Megaponera and Ophthalmopone are sisters, and this too is corroborated by morphological data. Recent preliminary data (P.S. Ward, pers. comm.) has placed Promyopias near Phrynoponera and Odontoponera but futher study will be required to confirm this placement. Finally, Odontomachus and Anochetus form a clade, though their reciprocal monophyly is not yet certain. All other generic relationships within the Odontomachus group are unresolved.

The monophyly of both Bothroponera and Mesoponera is uncertain. We divide Bothroponera here into two groups: the Bothroponera pumicosa species group ( Bothroponera s.s.) and the Bothroponera sulcata species group. The B. sulcata group was not sampled in the molecular phylogeny, and we have not been able to discern any synapomorphies linking it to Bothroponera s.s., but we are retaining it within Bothroponera for now until its true phylogenetic position can be discerned. A monophyletic Mesoponera (as defined here) was not inferred in the molecular phylogeny, but could not be rejected. The Mesoponera melanaria species group ( Mesoponera s.s.) and Mesoponera ingesta species group are not united by any definite synapomorphies, though they have many superficial similarities. These same character states have also evolved in other ponerine genera, however, reducing the strength of the characters as phylogenetic markers. We are retaining the M. ingesta group within Mesoponera until their relationships can be more definitively determined.

We tentatively include Asphinctopone in the Odontomachus genus group despite any strong morphological argument for doing so. The genus lacks the putative synapomorphies of both the Plectroctena and Pachycondyla groups, and is not obviously related to Hypoponera , Harpegnathos , or the Ponera group. The 28S phylogeny of Oullette et al. (2006) grouped Asphinctopone with Anochetus , but this relationship is not supported by any morphological synapomorphies. 28S is not a highly informative gene at these depths within Ponerinae , so this result should not be taken too seriously. Still, it is the best lead available at this time, so we are considering Asphinctopone as incertae sedis within the Odontomachus group for now. Its geographic range (the Afrotropics) is consistent with this placement, as the Odontomachus group appears to have witnessed the bulk of its diversification in Sub-Saharan Africa.